Elastic connecting device.



* STATES PATENT FFICE.

SIDNEY O. BIGNEY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SIDNEY SUS- PENDER COIVIPANY, 0F ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

ELASTIC CONNECTING DEVICE.

Application filed January 11, 1913.

To all who/2L it 72211; concern Be it known that I, SIDNEY O. BIGNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic Connecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to garters and similar supporting articles and has for its objects a uniform and perfect distribution of the strain upon the parts; a perfect inclosure of the spring members; certainty and silence in the operation of the spring members; and inexpensiveness of construction and assemblage.

To the above ends my invention consists essentially in such parts and combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations respectively of my novel garter, Fig. 3, a front elevation of the same with the front portion of the housing removed and the part of the connecting strap broken away, Fig. at, a similar view of the same showing the relative position of the parts with the garter in its extended position, and Fig. 5, a plan view of the slide.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe views.

My structure comprises a suitable housing for the spring members and frame which in the present instance comprises a front strip of non-elastic fabric A and the rear strip B connected at their side edges by threads a and sewed along a portion of their lower edges by threads I) leaving a central opening as at 0. The housing is completed by threads (Z connecting the strips A and B, at a point above the springs, and frames to be presently described. The strips A and B may terminate at a point adjacent the threads (Z, for instance, as at the point 6, although it is preferred to extend said strips upward, as shown, in order to increase the strength and durability of the garter.

In the completed housing F, whose construction has already been described, is located a frame G comprising two vertical legs 9 connected by an arched portion 9 the whole constituting an inverted U-shaped frame. The lower ends of the arms or legs Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914. Serial No. 741,455.

g have enlargements or balls or heads h fixed thereto supporting the ends of helical springs Iwhich surround the legs and whose upper ends bear against slidable balls j upon the upper ends of the legs below the arch. lVithin the springs and sliding upon the legs or guides g are located at intervals beads or tubes L which frictionally engage the coils of the springs and guard the legs from contact with the springs, thus preventing abrasion, cramping, scratching, and noise durin the contraction and expansion of the springs. The lower ends of the legs 9 or their enlargements it rest upon the closed portions or seams b of the housing or casing F. The arch portion 9 of the frame is held against upward movement by the threads (Z, some of which pass through both strips A and B which constitute the upper portion of the casing as already described.

Slidably mounted upon the legs 9 at the base of the arch portion g, and resting upon the upper balls j is a horizontal plate L provided with end perforations Z and a central oblong opening Z. The perforations are for the purpose of admitting through the plate the members 9. The opening Z permits the passage through the plate of the looped portion m of a depending strap M, the loop being thus formed by the parts M and on depends between the two legs 9 and passes outof the lower end of the housing through the opening 0, and a buckle or slide N upon the end of the member a adjusts the length of the loop upon the strap M. Upon the lower end of the strap M is a loop 0 passing through the slot 79 in a metal socket P. To the back of the loop is sewed or fixed a strap Q extending below the loop O and provided with an end loop Q which engages through slots 9 in a plate 9 on which plate is fixed a button 7'. The button r is adapted to engage the socket plate P in the usual manner. The described method of attaching the adjustable strap M to the stocking member, of course, may be varied; and any convenient means of adjusting the strap M longitudinally may be employed.

It will be understood that the exterior of the garter may be ornamented in any desired manner as for instance by a how 8 attached to the lower portion of the casing F.

My invention is adapted for use obviously as above suggested in connection with suspension articles of a character similar to garters such for instance as for suspenders.

WVhat I claim is In an article of the type set forth, a casing, a frame of substantially inverted U- shaped form in the casing comprising an arched portion secured to the casing, springs upon the legs of the frame, a cross plate having perforations through which the legs of the frame are freely received, said cross plate having a longitudinal opening, a depending strap having a loop cooperating With said opening and With said cross plate, and balls upon the legs of the frame, said balls being located at intervals and slidable 15 upon said legs, frictionally engaging the coils of said spring, and balls cooperating With said cross plate.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SIDNEY O. BIGNEY.

. Witnesses:

IVIARGUERITE H. LIvsnY,

FRANK STEERE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

